Improvement in fire-escapes



A. STR() N G P. PET ERSUN.

Fi r e- Es ca p es.

Patented Dec.22,1874.v

Mwexkms Wy W THE GRAPrHvl-CCO. PHAOYO-LITFLBS 8x rl PARK PLACE N.Y

UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE.

AMOS STRONG AND PETER PETERSON, OF QUINGY, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRSCAPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 57,9?8, dated December 22, 1874; application filed October 29, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, AMOS STRONG and PETER PETERSON, both of Quincy, in the county of Suffolk, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Life- Saving Cushion, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the drawing accompanying and forming part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a cushion to be used for breaking the fall of persons who, by reason of a fire or any other accident, are obliged to escape from a building by jumping from a window or any other lofty situation, and by means ofwhich they are enabled to alight in safety without injury io life or limb; and it consists of a cushion of square, hexagonal, or other suitable form, made of strong canvas or other suitable material, having a number of hollow spheres of indiarubber arranged in radial lines between the upper and lower surfaces of the same, said cushion being provided with suitable handles at each of its corners.

The accompanying drawing is a plan of the form of cushion which we prefer, which is of a square shape, and about fifteen feet square.

In this drawing, A A A A are the handles. Bis the canvas body. C C are hollow spheres of indiarubber, arranged between the upper and lower surfaces of the cushion in radial lines.

The spheres in the center of the cushion are larger than those nearer the edge, the former being six inches in diameter, the latter four inches, the size of the spheres being in proportion to the size of the cushion. E E are elastic straps, by means of which the spheres are held in position and allowed a slight lateral movement or play. If the cushion is hexagonal in form we should have twelve instead of eight spheres, as represented.

When the cushion is used, it is grasped at each of its corners and extended. If, then, a person falls thereon from a considerable distance, the elastic spheres will render the surface of the cushion yielding, soft, and elastic, s'o that the fall will be harmless to life or limb.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

A life-saving cushion composed of canvas or other suitable material, provided with handles, and having hollow elastic spheres of india-rubber arranged between its upper and lower surfaces, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

AMOS STRONG. PETER PETERSON.

Witnesses:

W. P. PIERCE, J oHN F. FLYNN. 

